Geoscience Futures
Geoscience is central to all our futures. Whether it’s the energy transition, clean water, feeding the planet, mitigating climate change, or building sustainable cities, the world needs geoscientists. But is the discipline of geoscience fit for purpose? In this podcast, well known broadcaster Professor Iain Stewart - along with colleagues Cam McCuaig and Neil Evans from the resources company BHP - talk to "thought leaders" in the field of geoscience, to discover their vision for the future of the discipline. How does geoscience reinvent itself for the great societal challenges of the 21st century? This is a podcast that grew out of a Unesco research project exploring the relationship between geoscience and the UN's sustainability goals. It is intended as a showcase for creative thinking about the future of geoscience.(As a consequence of Covid lockdowns, all the interviews were conducted via video conference and the audio quality sometimes reflects this.)
Geoscience Futures
Chris Jackson
Geoscience unquestionably has a diversity problem. As one person we spoke to said: “We are the whitest of the white”. Now, if you happen to be white then you'll probably acknowledge that this is an issue of concern. But if you’re a Black geoscientist, it's likely that the simple fact of your skin colour is going to be an inescapable and daily preoccupation in your professional life. Few people have spoken about this issue more eloquently, or with more passion than Professor Chris Jackson, of Manchester University. As a discipline, this is a conversation that we urgently need to have: no discussion about the future of geoscience can afford to ignore the need to diversify its appeal.
Chris doesn’t pull his punches, but his thoughts are always constructive and full of humour. He starts off this conversation - also involving my colleague Cam McCuaig - by highlighting the challenges facing geoscience today.
This episode was recorded when Chris was at UoM. Chris has since moved on to work at Jacobs